Seeking Knowledge and Doing Good with Corrupt Intentions

وعن علي رضي الله عنه أنه ذكر فتنا تكون في آخر الزمان فقال له عمر متى ذلك يا علي قال إذا تفقه لغير الدين وتعلم العلم لغير العمل والتمست الدنيا بعمل الآخرة  رواه عبد الرزاق أيضا في كتابه موقوفا  (الترغيب والترهيب 1/157)

On one occasion Hazrat Ali (Radhiyallahu Anhu) mentioned the fitnahs that will occur at the end of time (before Qiyaamah). Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhu) then enquired from him: “O Ali, at which time will these fitnahs break out in the ummah?” Hazrat Ali (Radhiyallahu Anhu) replied: “At the time when people will learn Fiqh (acquire the knowledge of Deen) for reasons other than Deen (i.e. for worldly motives); when people will acquire the knowledge of Deen without the intention of practicing on it; and when the actions of the Aakhirat will be done for the purpose of acquiring the wealth of this world.”